Beer In Art #49: Sharon Hammond’s Belgian Beer Cafe

For today’s artwork we’ve gone almost as far away from the U.S. as possible, to Adelaide, Australia. Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, and is fairly large, with a little over 1.1 million people. It’s also home to the Belgian Beer Cafe Oostende, the interior of which is the subject of today’s work of art by local artist Sharon Hammond.
Although it initially fooled me, the work is actually a photograph that’s been processed to look more like a painting. The photograph is called Belgian Beer Cafe Adelaide and is the interior of what looks like a very large bar.

The Belgian Beer Cafe – Oostende is designed to take you back to a simpler time. Belgian Cafes circa 1930 to 1955 to be exact. As you look through the venue you will notice decorative items typical to this period are cleverly displayed. Not drawing attention to themselves per se, but adding to the unique atmosphere as a whole. Clocks, posters and lighting fixtures are all reminiscent of the era.

Consider the panelling and seating made of specially imported European oak, tastefully combined with numerous vintage pieces dating back to the beginnings of last century, and you’ll begin to see why the Belgian Beer Cafe – Oostende is fast become one of Adelaide’s favourite venues. Of course the magnificent Belgian beers and cuisine, along with the service that won the 2002 & 2004 AHA Best Bar Presentation & Service awards certainly helps.

As for the artist, Sharon Hammond, there’s not much biographical information, apart from some mildly revealing journal entries. She lives in Adelaide, as far as I can tell, and she has more of her works on Red Bubble and on Kiss the Frog.